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Key Takeaways
Best information security degree programs: DePaul, Illinois State, Lewis
Ranked by graduation rates, program outcomes, and institutional quality
Tuition ranges from $5,640 to $50,270/year
Moraine Valley Community ... offers the most affordable option at $7,968/yr
Information Security degree programs available: 24 associate's, 6 master's in Illinois
From community college pathways to advanced research degrees
17 online information security degree programs in Illinois
Flexible scheduling for working professionals
Illinois community college transfer can save 40-60% on total degree costs
24 associate's programs provide transfer pathways to bachelor's degrees
Education Commission of the States
Major employers: Salesforce, Google, Groupon, Grubhub
Tech hubs in Chicago and Naperville
Hakia Research 2026
Information Security degree programs near 113+ cities across Illinois
Search by city to find programs within 200 miles of your location
Updated July 13, 2026
How we ranked Illinois Information Security programs
We rank 45 accredited information security programs in Illinois using IPEDS 2024 institutional data, BLS OEWS 2024 state salary data, and College Scorecard outcomes. A 4-factor weighted composite is normalized to a 0–100 score. Schools cannot pay for placement; rankings are produced algorithmically.
Are Information Security Degree Programs in Illinois Worth It?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Information Security Degree Rankings in Illinois
Compare the top-ranked Information Security programs in Illinois by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Associate's Information Security Programs in Illinois
Program Landscape
Illinois offers 24 accredited associate's degree programs in information security, providing an affordable entry point into the technology field. The top-ranked programs include Moraine Valley Community ..., College of DuPage, Joliet Junior College, which combine rigorous technical curriculum with practical skills training.
Costs & Value
Community colleges in Illinois offer these two-year programs at an average cost of $9,784/yr, significantly less than four-year university tuition. Students completing associate's degrees can pursue entry-level technical positions and transfer opportunities, with entry-level salaries averaging $62,260 in Illinois.
Career Pathways
Many programs feature guaranteed transfer agreements with Illinois's public universities, allowing students to complete their first two years at reduced cost before transferring to complete a bachelor's degree. The Chicago, Naperville, Champaign areas offer particularly strong job markets for associate's degree holders, with employers like Salesforce, Google, Groupon hiring for technical support, junior development, and IT specialist positions.
Curriculum & Specializations
Programs typically include coursework in programming fundamentals, database management, networking basics, and software development. Among information security schools in Illinois, these associate's programs offer the best value for students beginning their information security degrees in Illinois.
Show all 15 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove, IL | Public | $9,192 | 39% | 76.2 |
| #7 | Illinois Valley Community College | Oglesby, IL | Public | $14,897 | 42% | 73.9 |
| #8 | Rock Valley College | Rockford, IL | Public | $6,795 | 37% | 72.4 |
| #9 | Black Hawk College | Moline, IL | Public | $7,950 | 40% | 71.6 |
| #10 | City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Chicago, IL | Public | $12,090 | 31% | 68.4 |
| #11 | Joliet Junior College | Joliet, IL | Public | $11,700 | 21% | 67.0 |
| #12 | Morton College | Cicero, IL | Public | $8,256 | 31% | 64.8 |
| #13 | Triton College | River Grove, IL | Public | $11,610 | 29% | 64.8 |
| #14 | City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College | Chicago, IL | Public | $12,090 | 27% | 62.9 |
| #15 | City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College | Chicago, IL | Public | $12,090 | 21% | 56.9 |
Best Bachelor's Information Security Programs in Illinois
Program Landscape
Illinois ranks among the nation's top destinations for information security education, with 15 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 3 public and 12 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are DePaul, Illinois State, Lewis, recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.
Career Outcomes
Graduates from Illinois information security programs earn a median salary of $96,220, 2% below the national average. The state's robust technology sector, anchored by the Chicago, Naperville, Champaign metropolitan areas, provides abundant internship and employment opportunities with companies including Salesforce, Google, Groupon.
Costs & Value
Tuition ranges from $9,359 to $50,270 annually, with an average of $31,915/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 89%, with the highest reaching 99%. Many programs hold ABET accreditation, the gold standard for computing education, ensuring curriculum meets rigorous industry standards.
Curriculum & Specializations
Students can choose from specializations including software engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, and systems architecture. Strong industry partnerships provide access to co-op programs, capstone projects with real companies, and direct recruiting pipelines to Illinois's leading technology employers. For students seeking information security degrees in Illinois, these top-ranked information security schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Show all 15 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, IL | Private nonprofit | $37,910 | 61% | 78.1 |
| #7 | Elmhurst University | Elmhurst, IL | Private nonprofit | $42,495 | 70% | 77.6 |
| #8 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL | Public | $11,215 | 65% | 77.4 |
| #9 | Western Illinois University | Macomb, IL | Public | $9,662 | 45% | 73.5 |
| #10 | McKendree University | Lebanon, IL | Private nonprofit | $33,310 | 53% | 71.7 |
| #11 | Aurora University | Aurora, IL | Private nonprofit | $28,800 | 60% | 71.4 |
| #12 | University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield, IL | Public | $9,950 | 53% | 70.9 |
| #13 | Millikin University | Decatur, IL | Private nonprofit | $26,000 | 55% | 70.6 |
| #14 | Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago, IL | Public | $10,343 | 22% | 67.1 |
| #15 | Roosevelt University | Chicago, IL | Private nonprofit | $21,000 | 35% | 58.3 |
Best Master's Information Security Programs in Illinois
Program Landscape
Illinois offers 6 master's degree programs in information security, designed for professionals seeking to advance into senior engineering, technical leadership, and specialized roles. The top programs, DePaul, Illinois Institute of Tec..., Lewis, combine advanced technical training with research opportunities and leadership development.
Career Outcomes
Master's graduates in Illinois earn a median salary of $113,200, approximately 20-30% higher than bachelor's degree holders. The concentration of technology companies in Chicago, Naperville, Champaign creates strong demand for graduate-level talent, with Salesforce, Google, Groupon actively recruiting from these programs.
Costs & Value
Program formats include traditional full-time study (typically 2 years), part-time options for working professionals (2-3 years), and accelerated tracks. Tuition averages $32,355/yr, with many employers offering tuition reimbursement for graduate education. Some programs offer thesis and non-thesis tracks, allowing students to focus on research or professional development based on their career goals.
Curriculum & Specializations
Curriculum covers advanced topics including machine learning, distributed systems, software architecture, and technical management. Many programs include practicum experiences, industry capstone projects, or consulting engagements that provide real-world application of advanced concepts. Among Illinois's information security schools at the graduate level, these programs stand out for both academic quality and career outcomes.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Show all 8 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield, IL | Public | $9,950 | 53% | 67.4 |
| #7 | Saint Xavier University | Chicago, IL | Private nonprofit | $37,755 | 57% | 66.9 |
| #8 | Roosevelt University | Chicago, IL | Private nonprofit | $21,000 | 35% | 55.7 |
Information Security Degree Costs & Tuition in Illinois
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average in-state tuition | $18,466/year |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $46,165/year |
| Community college tuition | $4,617/year |
| 4-year savings for residents | $110,796 |
| 2+2 transfer pathway savings | $27,698 |
Source: IPEDS 2024
Financial Aid & Scholarships for Information Security Students in Illinois
State Aid Programs
Illinois offers strong financial aid through the Monetary Award Program (MAP), providing need-based grants for state residents attending approved institutions. The AIM HIGH Grant provides additional funding for middle-income families, expanding access to information security programs. Federal Pell Grants and student loans remain available, while STEM-focused scholarships target cybersecurity students specifically through organizations like the National Science Foundation.
Key Programs & Amounts
Industry partnerships provide scholarship opportunities, with companies like Boeing, Abbott Laboratories, and Caterpillar offering tuition assistance for Illinois cybersecurity students. The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy provides pathways for academically gifted students, while community college foundation scholarships support transfer students. Military veterans benefit from enhanced Illinois Veterans Grant programs, covering tuition and fees at public institutions.
Institutional Scholarships
Graduate students can access research assistantships and teaching fellowships, particularly in quantum computing and cybersecurity research areas supported by the state's $500 million quantum investment. The financial aid guide provides detailed information on application processes and deadlines. Work-study programs at institutions like Illinois Institute of Technology provide practical experience while offsetting educational costs.
Information Security Degree ROI Calculator, Illinois
Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a information security degree in Illinois. Enter your expected tuition costs, financial aid, and career goals to see projected payback periods and lifetime earnings. The calculator uses current salary data from BLS and tuition data from IPEDS to provide accurate estimates.
Information Security Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your return on investment for a information security degree
Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type
+802%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
$1,483,492
Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.
5 years
Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.
$123,810
Your starting salary adjusted for local cost of living. This shows real purchasing power compared to a $100K national baseline.
Why does break-even change with program type? Your "total investment" includes both tuition AND opportunity cost (foregone earnings while in school). A 4-year full-time public university (in-state) means 4 years of not earning a salary ($140,000 in opportunity cost). Shorter full-time programs may have higher tuition but lower total investment because you return to the workforce sooner.
Detailed Breakdown
How we calculate your degree ROI using real salary data
Tuition plus opportunity cost (earnings you miss while in school)
Direct cost of the degree program
4 years × $35K/year foregone salary while studying full-time
Projected career earnings starting after graduation, with salary growth
What you'd earn working at $35K/year with 2% annual growth
Median salary for this role in your selected location (BLS 2024)
Your investment's compound annual growth rate (similar to stock market returns)
Data sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, IPEDS 2024. Calculations use median salaries, 3% discount rate, and assume salary growth declines from 6% to 2% over career. Individual results will vary. | Powered by Hakia.com
Information Security Salaries by Metro Area
Median annual salary in Illinois metro areas
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Chicago | $125K |
| Naperville | $119K |
| Champaign | $113K |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Hakia.com
Top Employers Hiring Information Security Graduates in Illinois
Find information security jobs in Illinois. These major employers across Illinois metro areas are actively hiring information security degree holders. Click employer names to view current job openings.
Information Security Jobs in Chicago
ILChicago is a fintech and trading technology hub. CME Group and numerous trading firms drive demand for tech talent.
Nearby cities: Evanston, Oak Brook, Schaumburg, Naperville, Aurora, Downers Grove, Skokie
Illinois Tech Industry & Infrastructure
Illinois — and specifically the Chicago metro — is the largest US Midwest tech hub and uniquely combines financial-services tech (CBOE, CME Group, Citadel before its move, Morningstar) with a deep enterprise/IT employer base (Caterpillar, Boeing, Walgreens, McDonald's IT). The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign CS program is one of the largest CS-graduate producers in the country.
Chicago
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Trading and financial-services tech hub (CBOE, CME Group, Citadel Securities, Jump Trading), plus major Chicago offices for Google, Meta, Salesforce. Northwestern, UChicago, and UIUC alumni concentrate here.
Urbana-Champaign
Champaign metro
UIUC research and startup spinout hub. UIUC's CS program produces one of the largest US bachelor's CS graduate cohorts; Research Park hosts engineering offices for John Deere, Yahoo, ADM, and others.
Illinois has a flat-rate state income tax. The state offers EDGE tax credits for qualifying tech-employer investments.
Illinois Regulation Affecting Information Security Graduates
Illinois has the most stringent biometric-privacy law in the United States. For ML, AI, and identity-verification engineers, Illinois BIPA is a foundational compliance constraint that has reshaped product design at major US tech employers.
Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA)
Strictest US biometric privacy law. Requires written consent before collecting, storing, or using biometric identifiers (fingerprints, facial geometry, voiceprints). Provides a private right of action — including statutory damages of $1,000-$5,000 per violation.
Critical for any engineer building face-recognition, fingerprint, voice-print, or similar biometric features. BIPA litigation has produced settlements in the hundreds of millions (Facebook: $650M, TikTok: $92M). Most major US tech companies have modified product behavior specifically to avoid BIPA exposure.
Read moreIllinois Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)
Requires reasonable security measures for personal information and sets data-breach notification requirements.
Standard data-protection compliance for any IL-resident-serving business.
Read moreIllinois Artificial Intelligence Video Interview Act
Employers using AI to analyze video interviews must notify candidates, obtain consent, explain how the AI works, and limit data sharing.
AI/ML engineers building hiring-tech serving Illinois employers must implement consent flows and AI-explanation interfaces.
Read moreProfessional Engineer Licensure in Illinois
Illinois does not currently administer a separate Software Engineering PE license. Standard engineering PE disciplines (mechanical, electrical) require ABET-EAC accreditation; software engineering specifically is not a Illinois-recognized PE discipline.
Illinois licensing boardIllinois Financial Aid Programs
Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant
State grantUp to ~$8,400/yr
Illinois residents with financial need at IL institutions
AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program
Merit-need hybridUp to in-state tuition coverage
Illinois residents with academic merit and financial need at IL public universities
Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship
State scholarshipUp to $7,500/yr
Minority IL residents pursuing teaching credentials; CS/tech education tracks eligible
Transfer Pathways for Information Security Degrees in Illinois
State Transfer System
Illinois operates the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), which facilitates credit transfer between community colleges and four-year universities. Students completing associate degrees at institutions like Harper College or College of DuPage can transfer seamlessly to information security programs at universities statewide. The IAI General Education Core ensures general education requirements transfer completely, allowing students to focus on major coursework after transfer.
How Transfers Work
Major Illinois universities maintain specific articulation agreements for cybersecurity and computer science programs. Students save significant costs by completing prerequisites at community colleges before transferring. The best online degrees information security options provide additional flexibility for working professionals seeking to complete degrees through transfer pathways. Transfer students often find Illinois programs more accessible than neighboring states due to standardized transfer policies and generous credit acceptance practices.
Illinois's Tech Ecosystem
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, CompTIA State of Tech Workforce 2025, Glassdoor
Information Security Job Market & Salary Data in Illinois
Employment Outlook
Illinois's cybersecurity job market shows strong growth potential, particularly in the Chicago metropolitan area. The state's tech sector expansion has created numerous openings for information security professionals, with opportunities spanning traditional corporations to advanced quantum computing firms (BLS OEWS Tables). The concentration of Fortune 500 companies in Illinois provides stable, high-paying positions for cybersecurity graduates entering the workforce.
Salaries by Metro
Software developers in Illinois earn competitive salaries, with information security specialists commanding premium compensation due to specialized skills (BLS OEWS Tables). The Chicago metro area offers the highest concentration of tech jobs, while smaller cities like Peoria and Rockford provide lower cost-of-living options with emerging tech opportunities. Remote work trends have expanded access to Illinois-based positions for professionals throughout the state.
High-Growth Sectors
High-growth sectors include quantum computing, financial technology, and critical infrastructure protection. The software developer career path often overlaps with cybersecurity roles, creating diverse opportunities. Healthcare and manufacturing cybersecurity roles are expanding rapidly, driven by digital transformation initiatives across traditional Illinois industries.
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)
New graduates and career changers
Senior (8+ yrs)
Technical leads and architects
Online vs On-Campus Information Security Programs in Illinois
Online Programs
17 available in Illinois
On-Campus Programs
Traditional classroom experience
Compare Information Security Programs in Other States
- Total Programs
- 23
- Median Tuition
- $6,800
- Total Programs
- 14
- Median Tuition
- $9,800
- Total Programs
- 8
- Median Tuition
- $10,500
- Total Programs
- 17
- Median Tuition
- $12,300
- Total Programs
- 8
- Median Tuition
- $6,100
- Total Programs
- 39
- Median Tuition
- $1,300
- Total Programs
- 30
- Median Tuition
- $4,300
- Total Programs
- 48
- Median Tuition
- $6,200
Information Security Degree Programs in Illinois: FAQ
What are the best information security degree programs in Illinois?
How much do information security degree programs cost in Illinois?
What salary can information security degree graduates earn in Illinois?
Are there online information security degree programs in Illinois?
What companies hire information security degree graduates in Illinois?
Is an information security degree program worth it in Illinois?
How long do information security degree programs take in Illinois?
What financial aid is available for information security degree students in Illinois?
Data Sources
Institutional characteristics, completions, graduation rates
Illinois salary and employment data
Program details and admissions information
Last Updated: June 26, 2026. Rankings based on IPEDS 2024 data. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Taylor Rupe
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.